St. John Fisher University

St. John Fisher University Athletics
3690 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14618

Division 3 New York Northeast

Private Small Developing team

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Linda Michele

St. John Fisher University's all-time wins leader in women's lacrosse, Linda Michele was hired to guide the women's lacrosse program in the summer of 2011.

In each of her nine seasons at the helm, Michele has led the Cardinals to nine consecutive Empire 8 Conference championships and nine appearances in the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship.

Following an abbreviated 2020 season, Fisher reached new heights in 2021 under Michele's direction. The team cruised through the Empire 8 Championship and defeated three ranked teams in the NCAA Championship including a pair of top 10 opponents to win its first-ever Regional Championship and the NCAA Final Four. Michele, who was named the Empire 8 Coach of the Year, mentored 10 All-Conference players, three All-Region selections, two All-Americans and the NCAA Elite 90 Award winner as Fisher finished the season with its highest ever ranking in the IWLCA poll after - third overall. For her efforts, she was named the Regional Coach of the Year by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association.

The 2019 campaign marked yet another historic season after Fisher went 19-2 overall - the most wins Fisher has ever recorded in a single season. After winning its eighth straight Empire 8 title in convincing fashion, Fisher, which finished the season ranked 12th in the final IWLCA Coaches Poll, marched through the second round of the NCAA Championship with a win over Brockport and advanced to the Sweet 16 where it took on York College (Pa.). Under Michele's direction, Fisher led the Empire 8 in nearly every statistical category and had two players honored as the Defensive Player and Rookie of the Year.

In 2018 and 2016, Michele steered the team to 17 wins, which at the time was two more than any previous year in program history.

Michele notched her 100th career win at Fisher on March 6th, 2017 and enters the 2019 campaign with a 108 wins including 44 victories against Empire 8 competition and owns a career mark of 131-43 (.753). Under her guidance, the Cardinals have posted 15 wins or more in a season six times overall.

With Michele on the sidelines, Fisher is at its best in the postseason as the Cardinals have gone 16-0 in the Empire 8 Championship and have reached the second round or better in the NCAA Championship five times overall including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2019 and 2016.

Over the last eight years, Michele has coached some of the top players to ever don the Cardinal and Gold with 50 student-athletes being named All-Conference by the Empire 8 under her watch. Additionally, Michele has mentored three All-Americans and numerous All-Region selections.

Previously, Michele had coached at The College of Brockport, a program that she transformed into a national power in just two years.

In her first season, Michele guided the Golden Eagles to the program's first NCAA appearance, ultimately ending in the quarterfinal round. Brockport, which won just five games in 2009, went 13-4 in 2010 and advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship for the first time in the program's history with Michele being named the 2010 NCAA Division III Coach of the Year.

In 2011, Brockport received an at-large bid to NCAAs after finishing in 2nd place in the SUNYAC.

Michele's scholastic coaching resume is even more impressive. Prior to Brockport, Michele served as the head coach at East Rochester High School where she compiled a career record of 160-40. Over 13 seasons, she guided the team to four Section V Championships and three New York State Final appearances. The East Rochester native also coached at the Albany Girls Academy from 1990 to 1996, where she finished with a 78-14 record.

In 2001, she formed the Lady Roc Lacrosse Club, a premier travel lacrosse team for girls in the Rochester and Buffalo region. Michele has also served as the USWLA and US Lacrosse National Tournament Director, US Lacrosse coach and Empire State Games Western Region coach.

She was inducted into the Rochester Chapter of US Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2008.

In addition to her extensive lacrosse resume, Michele coached field hockey at East Rochester from 1999-2008 where she compiled a record of 185-28-12 and led the Bombers to three Class C Sectional Championships.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from SUNY Cortland in 1982 and a Master of Science in Health Education from Russell Sage College in 1992.

Michele is the fourth women's lacrosse coach since the program's inception in 2000.

She currently resides in East Rochester with her husband Mark. They have four children, Whitney, Sean, Jordan and Casey.

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Mark Michele

Mark Michele, the husband of women's lacrosse head coach Linda Michele, returns for another season as volunteer assistant and as the squad's offensive coordinator, having helped guide the program to eight consecutive Empire 8 Championships and NCAA appearances.

Michele brings a wealth of coaching experience, having over 25 years under his belt, and has provided leadership in various capacities. He served as a presenter at the Women’s National Convention in 2004, 2007, and 2010, as Chairman of Empire State Games Girls Lacrosse, as a member of NYSPHSAA Girls Lacrosse State Committee as the Section V Girls Lacrosse Coordinator, and coach for US Lacrosse National Tournament for NY Elite. Michele was also instrumental in assisting head coach Michele in establishing Lady Roc Lacrosse as the premier Western NY region girls’ lacrosse club team, playing in tournaments across the East Coast including Maryland, Virginia, and New England.

Prior to his coaching responsibilities for the Cardinals, Michele enjoyed a career as a physical educator, athletic administrator and coach. In 2017, Mark retired as Director of Athletics and Health, Physical Education, and Recreation at East Rochester High School and boys varsity basketball coach. In 22 seasons his team’s accumulated over 300+ wins along with several league and Section V Championships. In addition to his professional duties, he also assisted head coach Michele in her tenure at ER as she won a myriad of NYS and Section V Championships in Field Hockey and Girls Lacrosse. During her winning reign at ER, Lady Bombers were highly recruited by NCAA colleges and universities; some were awarded athletic scholarships to play at the next level.

Mark graduated from SUNY Cortland in 1982 with a BSE in Physical Education and earned an MA in Exercise Science and Athletic Administration from Michigan State University in 1988.